In Boston, two recent reports, one on the impact of climate change, and the other on planning for future development, provoked a hard look at the wisdom of building in increasingly flood-prone areas.
The planning report, “Imagine Boston 2030,” identifies five priority growth areas in the metro area. Four of the five growth areas, including the booming Seaport District in South Boston, are extremely vulnerable to flooding according to the other report, “Climate Ready Boston.”
Stephen Gray, assistant professor of urban design at Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a cochairman for Boston’s 100 Resilient Cities Resilience Collaborative, points out the contradiction in an opinion column in the Boston Globe. He asks: “How and where we decide to grow will have immeasurable economic and social consequences, so why would we intentionally grow in parts of the city that we know to be extremely vulnerable to flooding?”
He points out that in the Seaport construction permits “continue to be approved so long as buildings have floodable first floors and utilities on the roof. By this measure, the city maintains that floodable buildings are a viable solution, even if the streets around them could eventually be ankle deep in mud and water depending on the tide.” Coastal cities around the world are faced with similar dilemmas concerning where best to encourage new development in the face of rising sea levels induced by climate change, and where best to invest in flood mitigation infrastructure.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 13, 2017
Calif. commission approves ‘emergency’ balcony code changes
The changes apply to multifamily, hotels, state-owned buildings, and public schools.
Codes and Standards | Feb 9, 2017
Google-initiated program aims to get construction industry to use healthier building materials
Portico platform features a database of products ranked on how they disclose ingredients.
Codes and Standards | Feb 7, 2017
Newer structural standards mitigating earthquake impacts in Oklahoma
Buildings constructed in the last two decades are largely holding up to increased seismic activity.
Codes and Standards | Feb 6, 2017
New York State offers $36 million for energy efficiency on commercial buildings
Programs will provide money for both owners and renters.
Codes and Standards | Feb 6, 2017
New white paper on modular bathroom pods offers insight on best uses
When to use them, cost, and installation are issues that are explored.
Codes and Standards | Feb 3, 2017
Justice in Design initiative to explore how to design a modern jail
The report will inform design principles for New York City jails.
Codes and Standards | Feb 1, 2017
Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois lead annual Top 10 States for LEED Green Building list
LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance the most popular rating system in top 10 states.
Codes and Standards | Jan 31, 2017
Planning for world’s first floating city underway
New approach to resiliency examined in French Polynesia.
Codes and Standards | Jan 30, 2017
Denser development could reduce emissions more than building energy retrofits
More tightly packed cities would cut building emissions significantly, study says.
Codes and Standards | Jan 27, 2017
Calif. legislator proposes statewide solar mandate for new buildings
It would be the first such requirement in the U.S.